West Ham United player Michail Antonio has warned youngsters away from gangs.

Antonio, directing his comments at young people at risk, said: “Don’t join gangs. Once you’ve done it, you’re kind of in it and it’s difficult to get out. There’s always another option. There’s always someone you can speak to.

“You think it’s fun while you’re a child, but it follows you through your life. What you do as a child can affect you as an adult and affect your family.”

He added that if it hadn’t have been for his brother he could have ended up in a gang.

The 28-year-old was speaking in the same week it was revealed more murder hunts were launched in Newham than any other London borough in the year to March 2018.

West Ham United bosses have hailed its community project as 'the most ambitious' programme ever created by a Premier League club. Picture: ARFA GRIFFITHS

The winger was at the London Stadium launch on Wednesday of the Hammers’ latest initiative which sees first team players doing community work.

Vice-chairman Baroness Karren Brady, announcing the Players’ Project scheme, said the club wanted to tackle issues including obesity, poverty and crime.

She added: “We want to find out how we can help turn the tide on knife crime which is rapidly becoming the curse of London.”

Captain Mark Noble said: “I grew up in Canning Town and have always known about the values held dear by the working-class people of east London.